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Cease and Desist Forcing a new URL

by biggcapp
9 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
Hi I recently received a Cease and Desist letter on a URL that I purchased back in 2011. Back then no one cared about me, now that I am getting 1.2 Million views per month, I get a C&D letter. The problem is 98% of my traffic is from Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterst, Indulgy and Mantersing. All sites where I post pics that drive traffic to my site. Those pics have been retumbled and re-pinned and if I change the url I will literally lose all my traffic.

I have just moved the site to a dedicated server, under a different name.
For example, www.abctwitterwork.com is on a VPS and now I'm moving to a dedicated server under the name of www.newdomain.com .

Is there a way to redirect my links that are www.abctwitterwork.com/example1, www.abctwitterwork.com/example2, www.abctwitterwork.com/example3,

So that I am out of that url and still getting the referral traffic?

I'm not even sure if I asked the question correctly but hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.
Capp
#cease #desist #forcing #url
  • Profile picture of the author Andrew H
    If you can still retain ownership of the old domain you can do this with .htaccess redirect. If you have to hand over the domain, your screwed.
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    "You shouldn't come here and set yourself up as the resident wizard of oz."
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  • Profile picture of the author lem0n
    This .htaccess code should redirect pages to exact locations on new domain:

    RewriteEngine on
    RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.newdomain.com/$1 [R=301,L]

    Add that to OLD domains .htaccess file

    It SHOULD redirect for example www.olddomain.com/page1.html to www.newdomain.com/page1.html

    I haven't tested it but I'm quite sure it works. Try it out and PLEASE REPORT BACK!
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  • Profile picture of the author SmallBizWebsites
    Lem0n and Andrew are giving you good advice. If you are not the registrant of the domain you got the C&D letter about, you can do nothing. If you are the registrant, then do the following:

    1) Get a complete index of all the URLs on your old site and what they are for.
    2) Register a new domain
    3) Quickly build your new website.
    4) Create an .htaccess file that redirects every one of the old URLs to the equivalent URL on your new site.
    5) POINT the old domain to the server hosting your new domain. This is done by adding the old domain to your new hosting account and making it SECONDARY.
    6) Log on to your registrar account for the old domain and update the nameservers so they point to the hosting account for your new website.

    If you do this properly, the old domain wil disappear from search engine listings very quickly, but the old links will be good forever, and will take visitors to whatever page you directed them to in your .htaccess file.

    Don't forget to cancel your old hosting account- it will get zero traffic.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brandon Tanner
      First things first... does your domain name have a registered trademark name in it? If so, then you are probably lucky that you only got a C&D!

      If you're positive that the domain name does not infringe on any existing trademark, on the other hand, then there's not likely a valid reason that you would have to give up the domain.

      Also, is there any content on your website that you don't have the legal right to publish? (ie copyrighted images or text, etc). If so, that could be another cause for concern.

      If you're even slightly unsure about any of this, it would be best to consult with an intellectual property attorney. Big companies don't mess around when it comes to trademark / copyright infringement.
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  • Profile picture of the author biggcapp
    Thank you everyone. SmallBizWebsites I appreciate the detailed step by step. I own the url I think if I follow your steps closely I should be good to go.

    Thanks again everyone. I will keep you posted.
    -Capp
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    Starting My Own - The LifeStyle of an Internet Marketer
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    Have you considered the likelihood that the party who sent you the c&d will not be satisfied with you redirecting the traffic?

    If your domain infringes on another party's rights, it probably doesn't matter HOW you are benefiting from the traffic. It only matters THAT you are benefiting from the traffic.

    If you don't believe you are infringing, then you should be contemplating a vigorous defense of your rights to use it.

    Either way, a consultation with an IP attorney is a good idea.
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    Fifteen Lessons I have learned over 15 years and six businesses (or, My 1000th-Post Manifesto)
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  • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
    twitter is a trademark and they might come after you if you maintain a website that infringes.

    https://twitter.com/logo

    I would move the content and delete the dns entries for the infringing domain name at the registrar. Maybe even transfer ownership of the domain name to Donald Trump.

    I am not a lawyer, in fact have no legal training whatsoever. I don't even play a lawyer on tv.
    In no event will I be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of my opinion. Taking legal advice from anyone via the internet is a bad idea, you should do your own research and consult proper legal counsel before embarking on anything after breakfast.
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    Robin



    ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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  • Profile picture of the author SmallBizWebsites
    rocket2uranus brings up a good point. By pointing the old domain name to the new one, every search engine on the planet will receive a 301 redirect message saying that the old domain has "Permanently Moved". It will then remove all references to the old domain from its index.

    The only way the old domain can then be used is by someone manually typing it into a browser address bar. It will then instantly change and display the new domain name, along with the new website.

    If this is satisfactory to the issuer of the C&D, and I would be surprised if it was not, it should work fine. Generally, in situations like this, the issuer only wants the offending name to NOT show up if people search for [whatever]. However, legal advice would not be a bad idea. The issuer's claim may be just intimidation and have no legal standing.

    If you give up the domain, somebody else could register it within seconds. Now, all of your valuable links could point to a porn site or worse!
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  • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
    Twitter is a registered trademark.

    Free Trademark Search | Protect Business Name | Incorporate Your Business | Trademarkia

    In order to maintain the mark, they must defend it.

    The Consequences of Not Protecting and Defending Your Trademarks | Black Web 2.0

    see disclaimer above
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    Robin



    ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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